Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[Estimator]

In fairness, we are going nowhere as a county if the fans (and players) keep pining after RG. That's done and dusted. We've had 3 Temp/Full time managers since then. One of them even one a national trophy.

We did the same with Coleman (very different circumstances) after '94 and it hung over the county for years.

History repeating itself?!?

[Keyser soze]

Poor performance all round on sat night, apart from first 15 mins. Conceding soft goals has been our achilles heel for nigh on a year now, its not just a problem since Neill McNicholl started in goals.

This time last year we looked great in the league and look how the year panned out. I would rather we were poor and had room to improve that a repeat of last years form line.

This is the time to try out different things, different positions and different players. I wouldn't be too critical of the players or management, we were late to the party and that's been especially important this year with all the new rules, a wee bit of perspective from some people that should know better would be welcome.

[Mario]

https://x.com/PlayerGaelic/status/1893943299926552967?t=_PeP-JaMtse4j_J2aa7tDg&s=19

This sums up Derry the other night. Hopeless 50/50 ball kicked in with loads of easier options for the pass. Dublin don't take any risks with the kick pass even though they've loads of space. Walk it out, handpass it up the pitch, men standstill watching Dublin players run past them and they get a point. Howard must have thought it was a training match.

[Derry Optimist]

Rather than dwelling  on the negative aspects of Derry's performance on Saturday  - much of it justified - let both management and players get back to what they do best. Let them prepare and plan what was said at half time in the Galway game and more importantly play as they performed in that second half against the Tribesmen.
 
Then, as Galway manager Padraic Joyce said, they dictated the middle third sector, defended brilliantly with intensity and the forward line led by the magnificent Lachlan Murray applied the finishing touches to secure a well-earned draw.

Let us  pick defenders who can defend and forwards who can score and a middle third who can defend, score and most of all dictate the possession stakes especially from kick outs. With a fully - fit squad I have no doubt that the following team will make a real impact in this year's championship.
            O Lynch
D Baker M Bradley C McCluskey
C Doherty E McEvoy P McGrogan
      C Glass   B Rogers
P Cassidy  C McFaul  E Doherty
N Loughlin S McGuigan  L Murray

Substitutes- A Scullion, Mark Doherty, D Gilmore, A Tohill, R Forbes, N Toner, C Murphy, Declan Cassidy, R McCarron,C McMonagle, N O'Donnell.

[seanyb]

Rather than dwelling  on the negative aspects of Derry's performance on Saturday  - much of it justified - let both management and players get back to what they do best. Let them prepare and plan what was said at half time in the Galway game and more importantly play as they performed in that second half against the Tribesmen.
 
Then, as Galway manager Padraic Joyce said, they dictated the middle third sector, defended brilliantly with intensity and the forward line led by the magnificent Lachlan Murray applied the finishing touches to secure a well-earned draw.

Let us  pick defenders who can defend and forwards who can score and a middle third who can defend, score and most of all dictate the possession stakes especially from kick outs. With a fully - fit squad I have no doubt that the following team will make a real impact in this year's championship.
            O Lynch
D Baker M Bradley C McCluskey is he anywhere near back to full fitness?
C Doherty E McEvoy P McGrogan
      C Glass  B Rogers
P Cassidy  C McFaul  E Doherty
N Loughlin S McGuigan  L Murray

Substitutes- A Scullion not part of panel, Mark Doherty, D Gilmore long term injury?, A Tohill, R Forbes, N Toner, C Murphy, Declan Cassidy, R McCarron,C McMonagle, N O'Donnell long term injury?

[toby47]

Rather than dwelling  on the negative aspects of Derry's performance on Saturday  - much of it justified - let both management and players get back to what they do best. Let them prepare and plan what was said at half time in the Galway game and more importantly play as they performed in that second half against the Tribesmen.
 
Then, as Galway manager Padraic Joyce said, they dictated the middle third sector, defended brilliantly with intensity and the forward line led by the magnificent Lachlan Murray applied the finishing touches to secure a well-earned draw.

Let us  pick defenders who can defend and forwards who can score and a middle third who can defend, score and most of all dictate the possession stakes especially from kick outs. With a fully - fit squad I have no doubt that the following team will make a real impact in this year's championship.
            O Lynch
D Baker M Bradley C McCluskey is he anywhere near back to full fitness?
C Doherty E McEvoy P McGrogan
      C Glass  B Rogers
P Cassidy  C McFaul  E Doherty
N Loughlin S McGuigan  L Murray

Substitutes- A Scullion not part of panel, Mark Doherty, D Gilmore long term injury?, A Tohill, R Forbes, N Toner, C Murphy, Declan Cassidy, R McCarron,C McMonagle, N O'Donnell long term injury?

SeanyB is right - Scullion is gone, Gilmore & ODonnell wont be playing in the next few months.

McCluskey is said to be about 4/5 weeks away, he's missed almost a year's football, lets hope he can find form straight away, but a tough ask considering he will be fired straight in vs oppositions top forward.
McGrogan, don't be surprised if he doesn't hit top form this season, tough to come back from a cruciate and hit top for straight away.
Baker, I think he's been found out slightly with new rules, he is a decent ball carrying defender, but not the best man marker despite being one of the '3' that stays back.
Bradley, has played very little, could have what it takes...but also may not.

Bench still seriously light, Is there much more coming through in the immediate future? Have all the Downey's dropped off/never come through? Vs Dublin, Kerry, Donegal, Galway etc in an AI Quarter/Semi in Croke Park, who is coming off the bench to make a big difference or win a game?

Murray played in the 2022 Ulster Final and we said hopefully he's the man to step up and help Shane, it's 2025 and were still saying the same. Still can be called young, but he's not that young.

In 2020 Vs Armagh the team was below
Derry - O Lynch, P McNeill, B Rogers, C McWilliams, E Doherty, C McKaigue, P McGrogan, C McFaul, C Glass, D Tallon, E Lynn, P Cassidy, E Bradley, S McGuigan, N Loughlin. Subs: P Kearney for D Tallon (46), O McWilliams for P McNeill (60), P Cassidy for E Lynn (64), A Doherty for P Cassidy (69) .

We were relaying on Rogers, Doherty, McGrogan, McFaul, Glass, Shane McGuigan then, who else has broke into that leadership/main player bracket since? McCluskey/CD? whilst losing Chrissy, Herron & Bradley. Loughlin/Paul Cassidy still knocking around also.

When can we expect the next Chrissy/Rodgers/Shane/Glass/Doherty/McCluskey to come through? Young from Newbridge perhaps? Any more enroute?

Slightly negative I know, but while we have 5 or 6 players capable of winning all stars, I also feel we have 5/6 players getting game time that wouldn't be guaranteed a place on the Glen team at the moment.

[statto]

Rather than dwelling  on the negative aspects of Derry's performance on Saturday  - much of it justified - let both management and players get back to what they do best. Let them prepare and plan what was said at half time in the Galway game and more importantly play as they performed in that second half against the Tribesmen.
 
Then, as Galway manager Padraic Joyce said, they dictated the middle third sector, defended brilliantly with intensity and the forward line led by the magnificent Lachlan Murray applied the finishing touches to secure a well-earned draw.

Let us  pick defenders who can defend and forwards who can score and a middle third who can defend, score and most of all dictate the possession stakes especially from kick outs. With a fully - fit squad I have no doubt that the following team will make a real impact in this year's championship.
            O Lynch
D Baker M Bradley C McCluskey is he anywhere near back to full fitness?
C Doherty E McEvoy P McGrogan
      C Glass  B Rogers
P Cassidy  C McFaul  E Doherty
N Loughlin S McGuigan  L Murray

Substitutes- A Scullion not part of panel, Mark Doherty, D Gilmore long term injury?, A Tohill, R Forbes, N Toner, C Murphy, Declan Cassidy, R McCarron,C McMonagle, N O'Donnell long term injury?

SeanyB is right - Scullion is gone, Gilmore & ODonnell wont be playing in the next few months.

McCluskey is said to be about 4/5 weeks away, he's missed almost a year's football, lets hope he can find form straight away, but a tough ask considering he will be fired straight in vs oppositions top forward.
McGrogan, don't be surprised if he doesn't hit top form this season, tough to come back from a cruciate and hit top for straight away.
Baker, I think he's been found out slightly with new rules, he is a decent ball carrying defender, but not the best man marker despite being one of the '3' that stays back.
Bradley, has played very little, could have what it takes...but also may not.

Bench still seriously light, Is there much more coming through in the immediate future? Have all the Downey's dropped off/never come through? Vs Dublin, Kerry, Donegal, Galway etc in an AI Quarter/Semi in Croke Park, who is coming off the bench to make a big difference or win a game?

Murray played in the 2022 Ulster Final and we said hopefully he's the man to step up and help Shane, it's 2025 and were still saying the same. Still can be called young, but he's not that young.

In 2020 Vs Armagh the team was below
Derry - O Lynch, P McNeill, B Rogers, C McWilliams, E Doherty, C McKaigue, P McGrogan, C McFaul, C Glass, D Tallon, E Lynn, P Cassidy, E Bradley, S McGuigan, N Loughlin. Subs: P Kearney for D Tallon (46), O McWilliams for P McNeill (60), P Cassidy for E Lynn (64), A Doherty for P Cassidy (69) .

We were relaying on Rogers, Doherty, McGrogan, McFaul, Glass, Shane McGuigan then, who else has broke into that leadership/main player bracket since? McCluskey/CD? whilst losing Chrissy, Herron & Bradley. Loughlin/Paul Cassidy still knocking around also.

When can we expect the next Chrissy/Rodgers/Shane/Glass/Doherty/McCluskey to come through? Young from Newbridge perhaps? Any more enroute?

Slightly negative I know, but while we have 5 or 6 players capable of winning all stars, I also feel we have 5/6 players getting game time that wouldn't be guaranteed a place on the Glen team at the moment.

To be fair to Murray Derry don't get a point against Galway without him, strange he isn't starting as seems a quality player who is best placed take the scoring burden off McGuigan.  What Happened the lad Murphy from Magherafelt he looked a decent prospect in last years league?

[tbrick18]

Rather than dwelling  on the negative aspects of Derry's performance on Saturday  - much of it justified - let both management and players get back to what they do best. Let them prepare and plan what was said at half time in the Galway game and more importantly play as they performed in that second half against the Tribesmen.
 
Then, as Galway manager Padraic Joyce said, they dictated the middle third sector, defended brilliantly with intensity and the forward line led by the magnificent Lachlan Murray applied the finishing touches to secure a well-earned draw.

Let us  pick defenders who can defend and forwards who can score and a middle third who can defend, score and most of all dictate the possession stakes especially from kick outs. With a fully - fit squad I have no doubt that the following team will make a real impact in this year's championship.
            O Lynch
D Baker M Bradley C McCluskey is he anywhere near back to full fitness?
C Doherty E McEvoy P McGrogan
      C Glass  B Rogers
P Cassidy  C McFaul  E Doherty
N Loughlin S McGuigan  L Murray

Substitutes- A Scullion not part of panel, Mark Doherty, D Gilmore long term injury?, A Tohill, R Forbes, N Toner, C Murphy, Declan Cassidy, R McCarron,C McMonagle, N O'Donnell long term injury?

SeanyB is right - Scullion is gone, Gilmore & ODonnell wont be playing in the next few months.

McCluskey is said to be about 4/5 weeks away, he's missed almost a year's football, lets hope he can find form straight away, but a tough ask considering he will be fired straight in vs oppositions top forward.
McGrogan, don't be surprised if he doesn't hit top form this season, tough to come back from a cruciate and hit top for straight away.
Baker, I think he's been found out slightly with new rules, he is a decent ball carrying defender, but not the best man marker despite being one of the '3' that stays back.
Bradley, has played very little, could have what it takes...but also may not.

Bench still seriously light, Is there much more coming through in the immediate future? Have all the Downey's dropped off/never come through? Vs Dublin, Kerry, Donegal, Galway etc in an AI Quarter/Semi in Croke Park, who is coming off the bench to make a big difference or win a game?

Murray played in the 2022 Ulster Final and we said hopefully he's the man to step up and help Shane, it's 2025 and were still saying the same. Still can be called young, but he's not that young.

In 2020 Vs Armagh the team was below
Derry - O Lynch, P McNeill, B Rogers, C McWilliams, E Doherty, C McKaigue, P McGrogan, C McFaul, C Glass, D Tallon, E Lynn, P Cassidy, E Bradley, S McGuigan, N Loughlin. Subs: P Kearney for D Tallon (46), O McWilliams for P McNeill (60), P Cassidy for E Lynn (64), A Doherty for P Cassidy (69) .

We were relaying on Rogers, Doherty, McGrogan, McFaul, Glass, Shane McGuigan then, who else has broke into that leadership/main player bracket since? McCluskey/CD? whilst losing Chrissy, Herron & Bradley. Loughlin/Paul Cassidy still knocking around also.

When can we expect the next Chrissy/Rodgers/Shane/Glass/Doherty/McCluskey to come through? Young from Newbridge perhaps? Any more enroute?

Slightly negative I know, but while we have 5 or 6 players capable of winning all stars, I also feel we have 5/6 players getting game time that wouldn't be guaranteed a place on the Glen team at the moment.

To be fair to Murray Derry don't get a point against Galway without him, strange he isn't starting as seems a quality player who is best placed take the scoring burden off McGuigan.  What Happened the lad Murphy from Magherafelt he looked a decent prospect in last years league?

Oisin McWilliams? I know he had an injury, but he looked like a real option couple of years ago. Did he score the winner against dublin in celtic park one night?

[Mario]

No Rogers scored the winner. He did get a point but that's all I ever remember him doing for the senior team for someone that gets mentioned a lot on here.

[tbrick18]

No Rogers scored the winner. He did get a point but that's all I ever remember him doing for the senior team for someone that gets mentioned a lot on here.

Ah you might be right on Rogers.
He wasn't really about long enough to say he didn't do anything for the senior team, but I thought he was big and mobile and could take a long range score so showed potential.
Then as far as I know it was an injury that ruled him out. Maybe he's still injured?

[jb77]

Think people were asking the same questions about McWilliams and the downeys last year, I think we can all but forget about them gracing the doors for a while.

CD has a younger brother who racked up a lot of scores in the SFC, he might be worth a look in a couple of years

[Derry Optimist]

Many counties would be jealous of all the great minors Derry have produced since Matthew Downey led them to success in the 2020 All Ireland final which was played in 2021.However out of that magnificent side so far only five   have made it through to the Senior squad with Eoin McEvoy and Lachlan Murray consistently playing prominent roles and Mark Doherty,Dan Higgins and Patrick McGurk getting limited game time.
 
One would expect that when  Niall O'Donnell and Matthew Downey are fully match fit that they too would be in  line  for Senior a call up.So that is a total of six possible County Seniors from that successful minor side.

From the last three County minor  sides ie 2022-2024 - two of which also won the All-Ireland with the remaining one reaching the All Ireland semi final - one would expect that a total of at least nine other stars from those sides should make the break through to Senior ranks. I refer  to Danny McDermott,Fionn McEldowney,Johnny McGuckian, Conal Higgins, James Sargent, Eamon Young,Tommy Rogers and

[Derry Optimist]

Apologies for the gremlins in last post!! Now to complete it properly!
" Oisin Doherty and Ruairi Forbes all of whom have the potential to play Senior inter county football if they remain committed and develop physically to withstand the rigors of Senior football.
Unfortunately there may be too much of an age gap between some of our older and current best Senior players and many of the talented youngsters. I hope that I am wrong and all of our best Senior players will still be playing when these talented minors finally make the breakthrough. If they are then the prospects of a Senior All = Ireland title increase a hundred fold.
P.S. Of course I should have included Charlie Diamond and Jody McDermott amongst the 2020 Minor graduates!"

[marty34]

Finn Mc Eldowney should be on the senior team. Pace, energy and makes great decisions on the ball.

[roadsidefox]

Lachlan Murray has just turned 22 according to the Irish news last week. That's still young in my book.

A few of the lads from the 2022/23/24 minor teams could probably do a job for the senior team, but success at that level should (and is) their main priority. We shouldn't be throwing them in too early, especially given the tendency to write somebody off after a few bad performances.

All being well, these lads won't be available until the championship (the real one), so they'll miss the league and Ulster campaign - but that's ok in my book. They are arguably the most talented group of players we've ever had. They deserve to be nurtured correctly - we'll still have football to play next year & the year after..